Apparatus for supplying a treating medium



May 15, 1945.

G. ORN STEIN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING A TREATING MEDIUM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 9, 1942 INVENTOR.

May 15, 1945. G. ORNSTEIN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING A TREATING MEDIUM 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1942 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 15, 1945 i f APPARATUS FOR SIJT'PLYING A TREATING. MEDIUM IGeorg Ornstein, New York; N; Y. I Application January 9, 1942, SerialNo. 426,165 11 Claims. (01. 210-28) My invention relates to apparatusfor supplying a treating medium preferably treating gas at a controlledrate and more especially to an apparatus for supplying chlorine gas at acontrolled and measured rate to a flowing medium, suchas watc -forinstance water of cities or sewage or to other liquids. I a

In the'treating of water with chlorine or any other suitable treatinggas the chlorine 'is fed,

into the stream of water to be treated. In order to know the amountv ofchlorine being supplied,

the rate of supply of chlorine must be accurately I controlled andmeasured. Various methods of control are known. One which is widelyknown and has been preferably used in chlorine'co'ntrolled apparatusistoacause the gas to pass through a flow controlling'orifice and todetermine the rate of flow of the gasby measuring the drop of pressureacross the orifice by maintaining a constant pressure on the upstreamside of the orifice and measuring the pressure differ, ence by means ofa manometer. 'One type of apparatus basedon this'method of control isequipped with a tray in which is maintained a body of water at constantlevel, with a bell jar placed in the tray and its interior communicatingwith the Water in thetray, witha pipe for admitting chlorine intorthe'bell jar,fwith 'a'suction pipe forwithdrawing the gas from the bell jarand with means for controlling the supply of chlorine. Since the'flow ofgas through the "orifice varies as the square root of thepressure dropacross the orifice, adjustment of the fio'w rate at the low ratesoffeedwhich cause'a very small pressuredrop across the orifice'is difiicult,because of the relatively small change in negative head. required toproduce a relatively great change 'inthefiOW'IiittB;

efiicient in operation and reliable'under all 'ordi-' cording to myinvention,

nary conditions of use; A chlorinator. according to my inventionconsists of comparatively few elementsv which are of sturdy and simpledesign. Only very few stufling boxes and movable parts arerequired'which can be easily made and kept able time unit. 1

Another object'of-my invention is to provide means for preventing anyflow of liquid in which treating gas is .or may be dissolved from thebell jar or a similar'container into the open tray. 5

Another object of my invention is to provide means which permit anaccurate and simple reading of the pressure on a scale which may becalibrated to read in lbs. of chlorine per a sum Other and furtherobjects :of my invention'will be hereinafter set forth and the novelfeature thereof defined by the appended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings several embodiments'of my invention areshown. s

Fig. 1 is a sectional view-of a chlorinator ac- Fig. 2 is a sectionalview of a second embodiment of a chlorinator according toimyinvention;

Fig. 3 isa-plan view of a third embodiment 0 a chlorinator according tomyinvention. Fig. 4 is asectional VieW'a1ong-1ine"414.'0

i 3 and.v

-Fig. 5 is asectional view along line 5%5 of The chlorinator shown inFig. l' comprises a tray or"openreceptacle l which maybemade of anysuitable material for instance hard rubber and whichjissupported by astandard 2 of 'conventional design. In thetray acontainer such asbelljar 3 preferably of transparentmaterial, for instance glass, isplaced. At the lower edge of hell jar 3 channels or vents 5 areprovidedto permit'a fiowof liquid suchas water between the inside 6 ofbell'jar 3' and the' outside 1. *In' tray l, a body of water 8 ismaintained at a pre determined level preferably by an overflow tube 6'.The'water'may be admitted thr'ougha' spigot 9. The intake of water'eanbe controlled by a valve lfl'or a float valve, of conventional'design."Chlorine is admitted into 'be'lljar 3 through pipe ll whichis controlledby'a conventional'va'lve l2; Pipe or tube II is provided at its top witha float valve l3 having a swimmer or float M. The passage of tube l Ithrough tray[ is kept tight'by stuffing boxes I5. 'Float'valve l3 willopen and admitlfresh chlorine'gas as soon as the water It within thebell jar rises to reach a certain level. If the water drops belowthis'level the fioat'valve' 13 will close again. By this means aconstant water level may be maintained inside the jarfirrespective ofthe levelof water in the tray out-' side the same and a constant-flowofchlorine as is assured;"'

Passing up through the bottom of tray I and tightened by meansof-stufling box 18 is a pipe 7 position to each other.

I! which communicates with an aspirator I9, for instance a Venturi tube.This tube may be controlled by a Valve 20 in any conventional manner.With the upper end of tube an inner tube 2! is pivotably connected. Thepivotable connection can be made by any suitabl means for instance by ajoint 22, which is provided with a passage connecting tubes I! and 2|.Inner tube 2| is surmounted by a. meter tube 24 containing a smallorifice 25 in its otherwise closed top. The lower end of tube 24 is openand below the level of the water in bell jar 3.

The suction produced by aspirator l9 draws the gas through orifice 25from the upper part of the bell jar through the upper part of tube 24,tube 2|, tube I'I into the aspirator l9 where it is dissolved in astream of liquid, for instance water flowing through the aspirator. Thesuction produces a partial vacuum in the bell jar and raises the levelof the water therein above that in tray l as indicated in Fig. 1. Therate of flow of chlorine is determined by the difierence in pressure inthe bell jar and within tube 24. 'Since the capacity of the aspirator isgreater than the amount of gas admitted through orifice 25 in the top oftube 24 and since the lower end of tube 24 is open and below the levelof the water in the jar, the suction of the aspirator will raise thelevel of the water in tube 24 up to the level of the top of tube 2|. Theraised water will flow off through tube 2| in which'it is mixed with thaspirated chlorine. The solution will be discharged into aspirator I 9.The pressure, acting to draw of]? the gas will be indicated by thedifference of the level of water in tube 24 and the water level in thebell jar. Consequently, the pressure acting to draw oil gas can beadjusted and regulated by tiltin tubes 2| and 24 around joint 22. If forinstance the two tubes are brought into the position indicated by adotted line, the vertical distance between the water level and the topof tube 2| is reduced from H to h. Therefore, the pressure acting todraw off the gas is correspondingly reduced. Hence the various angularpositions of the tubes indicate the rate at which gas is drawn be madeby any suitable means for instance by a hand knob.

It is apparent from Fig. 1 and its description within the orifice tubehas a certain tendency to jump or jerk whereby the reading accuracy ofthe gas flow rate is affected.

-In addition to the orifice tube 24 and tube 2| controlling the gaspressure drop, I provide a third tube 26 communicating with a manometerhereinafter described. Tubes 2| and 26 are L- shaped. The lower end oftube 2| ends within a junction element 21 that connects tube 2| withtube l! which communicates with aspirator Ill. Junction element 21 canbe turned by means of an axle 28 and a milled knob 29. In order toprevent any leakage of liquid IE or chlorine gas, stufling boxes 3|] and3| may be provided. The upper end of tube 26 is always above the levelof the aspirated water within orifice tube 24, this I level beingdetermined by the top of tube 2 The lower end of tube 26 ends within asecond junction 34 may be of any suitable type.

. serves to discharge any water accidentally enterthe gas. space behindorifice 25 and above the liquid level that tubes 24 and 2| do not changetheir relative position to each other when tilt/ed. Consequently.

They may be further secured by little plugs or crossbars shown in thedrawings. Furthermore, the only movable part of the apparatus are thetwo tubes which pivot around a common joint 22. This is a very sim lemovement. which can be easily controlled. The design of the joint may bemade in any conventional manner.

The embodiment of my invention shown inFig. 2 is based on the sameprinciples as the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The same numerals designatethe same elements, therefore. these elements are not described inconnection w th Fig.2.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 permits a very high degree of accuracy ofadjustment and indication of the gas flow rate. I accomplish this byproviding a separate manometer, which is stationary and independent ofthe tilting of the orifice tube 24 and of the second tube 2| controllinthe pressure drop. I have found that the liquid ing tube 26 or 34, inorder to prevent such liquid from influencing the indications of themanometer.

As'apparent from the drawings and the specification tubes 24, 2| and 25can be tilted by turning milled knob 29, while the u-type manometer 34will remain'stationary in its vertical position. As described inconnection with Fig. l, the angular position of tube 2| will determinethe pressure drop across orifice 25 and hence the flow rate of Thepressure. usually negative, in the within tube 24, to wit the pressureon the downstream side of'the orifice will be transmitted to manometer34 through tube 25 and junction. element 32. As long as there is no dropin pressure across the orifice 25 the liquid level in the downward arm35 of manometer 34 will correspond to the levelof liquid I6 inside ofthe bell jar. When aspirator I9 is working and aspirates a solution ofgas and water through tube 2!, the drop of pressure then created. behindor fice 25 will cause to rise the liquid within arm 35. The level towhich the liquid is raised will indicate the negative pressure on thedownstream side of or fice 25. A scale 39 can be marked or associatedwith meter arm 35. This scale can be calibrated for instance to read inlbs. of chlorine per a time unit.

Manometer 34 will give an accurate indication. since it'is largelyindependent of any jumping or jerking of the liquid within orifice tube24. At the lower end of the meter arm of the manometer I may provide acapillary tube 62 which smoothes the movements of water within the metertube thus improving the reading accuracy of the manometer. By varyingthe angular position of orifice tube 24 and the tubes which aresurmounted by this tube any desired pressure drop I on the downstreamside of the orifice oanbe obshown in'Figs. land 2. However, the tubeiforcontrolling the pressure drop over the orifice is not surmounted by anorifice tube. but provided in a separate receptacleor bell jar 40.This-bell jar is placed on tray I and provided with pas-. sages orvents'4l. The orifice tube 42 with its flow controlling orifice 43 is'stationarily arranged Within bell jar 3. Tube 42 is connected with atube 44 which is passed through the bottom of tray l by means ofa'stuffing box 45. Tub 44 ends within a closed container 46which in turncommunicates with a tube 41. This tube is.stationarily arranged within Jjar 40 and passed through the bottomof tray l by means of astufiing box48. Tube49 for controlling the drop in pressure across orifice 43 by anegative hydraulic head and fordischarging a solution '01 chlorine andwater into thestream of water flowing through aspirator I 9 is.pivotably disposed in jar 40. Tube 49 ends in an L-section 50 whichextends into a junction or connection element'5 i. This element issecured by threads'orwany other suitable means to the bottom of tray Iand serves as a communication between tube 49 and a'tube 52 which inturn discharges into aspirator l9. Tube 52 extends into element 5| andis passed through the bottom of tray I by means of a stuffing box 53;The knee of tube 49 is engagedby a sleeve or jacket 54 to which issecured an axle or rod 55 which is passed through the walls of *jar 40and tray l by means of a stuffing box 56 and can beturned by a milledknob 51 or any other suitable means. Chamber 46 is connected through aninter mediate tube 58 with one arm 59 of a U-type manometer. The otherarm 60 of this manometer on which a meterscale may be marked is. open atthe bottom and extends below the level of the liquid in tray I. Acapillary tube 62 may be provided at the end of meter arm 60. Chamber 46further communicates; with the liquid trap 33, 36, 31 and 38 asdescribed in connection with Fig. 2.

This liquid trap serves to discharge any liquid reaching chamber 48through tube 41 or 59 in order to prevent manometer 60 from becomingliquid bound. vAs soon as a stream of liquid such as water begins toflow throughaspirator I9, the aspirator begins to draw chlorine gasconveyed into bell jar'3'through orifice 43, tube 42, tube'44. chamber46, tube 41, tube 49 and tube 52. As a result. a partial vacuum iscreated which will cause "to rise the liquid level in bell jars 3 and40.

The liquid level in jar 3 Will be controlled by float valve l3. Theliquid in jar 43 will rise. to

' thetop of. tube 49 and chlorine gas conveyedfinto the space 71 abovethe liquid level in jar 40 and liquid from this jar will be drawn intotube 49 and fed into the liquid flowing through aspirator l 9.Aspreviously described the angular position oftube 49 .will control thepressure .drop across indication of the manometer. As long asthereis.

no pressure diiference influencing the manometer,

Consequently, by turning knob 5! the and to associate the scale withthis tube.

the liquid level in arm Bllwill correspond to the liquid level inside ofthe bell jar 3 which indicates that there is no fiow 'of-gas'through'orifice43.'

. The manometer may be provided at any suitable. place inside or outsideof hell jar 3.. It Will also be possible to use. tube33 as a manometer,The liquid level in this tube will rise in accordance with thedifference between the negative pressure produced by aspirator l9 andthe atmospheric pressure exerted on liquid 31in container 36. The zeropoint of the scale Will be determined by the liquid level in jar 3.- Itis also. possible to use bell jar area manometer. The pressure will beindicated by thediiference of the liquid levels within bell jars 3 and40 respectively. scale can be associated with bell jar 40 Instead ofusing a simple aperture as orifice it will also be possible to use acapillary tube as orifice for controlling thepressure drop. The use of-acapillary tube has the advantage, that flow of gas through theorificedoes no longer vary as-the square root of the pressure drop across theorifice but approaches a'linear ratio. This will result in a widerspacing of the reading marks in the lower readings within the range ofthe apparatus. I

The embodiments of my invention shown in Figs. 1-5.provide vents orpassages between the A reading bell jar and the tray permitting a flowof liquid are. not dangerous but produce an unpleasant odor. a. I

I do not wish my invention to be limited to the embodiments shown in anddescribed herein, as various changes may be made without ,departing fromthe scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for supplying a sterilizing gas to aliquid to besterilized, in combination a tray in which is maintained a body ofliquid, means for supplying said liquid to said tray, a closed containerplaced in said tray, said containerhaving an: opening for the passage ofliquid between said tray and said container,- means for admitting saidgas into said container and means for withdrawing said gas from saidcontainer-and liquid from said tray and for feed:

, ing them into said liquid to be sterilized, said latter meanscomprising amember providing a fiow controlling orifice having anupstream and a downstream side, a suction device for drawing gas throughsaid flow controlling orifice thus causing a pressure drop across saidorifice and for aspirating said liquid, a common member for adjustingthe drop in pressure across said 2. In an apparatus for supplying.asterilizing gas to a liquid to be sterilized, incombination a tray inwhich is maintained a body.of liquid, meansv for supplying said liquidto said tray, a

closed container placed in said tray, said .con-

tainer having an opening for the passage of liquid between said tray andsaid container, means foradmitting said gas into said container andmeans for withdrawing said gas from said container and liquid from saidtray and for feeding them into said liquid to be sterilized, said lattermeans comprising a member providing a flow controlling orifice having anupstream side and a downstream side, a suction device for drawing gasthrough said fiow controlling orifice thus causing a pressure dropacross said orifice and for aspirating said liquid, a common memberlocated at the downstream side of the orifice for controlling the dropin pressure across the orifice and for feeding said gas drawn throughsaid orifice and said liquid aspirated by said suction device into saidliquid to be sterilized and pivot means for a pivotal arrangement ofsaid member having said flow controlling orifice and said member forcontrolling the pressure drop and for feeding said aspirated gas andliquid into said liquid to be sterilized for adjusting the drop inpressure across said orifice.

3. In an apparatus for supplying a sterilizing gas to a liquid to besterilized, in combination a tray in which is maintained a body ofliquid, means for supplying said liquid to said tray, a closed containerplaced in said tray, said container having an opening for the passage ofliquid between said tray and said container, means for admitting saidgas into said container and means for withdrawing said gas from saidcontainer and liquid from said tray and for feeding them into saidliquid to be sterilized, said latter means comprising a tube open at thebottom extending below the level of said liquid in said container andproviding a fiow controlling orifice having an upstream side and adownstream side, a suction device for drawing gas through said flowcontrolling orifice thus causing a pressure drop across said orifice andfor aspirating said liquid, a common member located at the downstreamside of the orifice for controlling the drop in pressure across theorifice and for feeding said gas drawn through said orifice and saidliquid aspirated by said suction device into said liquid to besterilized and pivot means for a pivotal arrangement of said member foradjusting the drop in pressureacross said orifice.

4. In an apparatus as described in claim 3, said common membercomprising a second tube for controlling the drop in pressure across theorifice and for feeding said gas drawn through said orifice and saidliquid aspirated by said suction device into said liquid to besterilized, said second tube being surmounted by said first tube havingthe orifice and communicating with said suction device and pivot meansfor tilting said tubes about a pivot for adjusting the drop in pressureacross said orifice.

5. In an apparatus for supplying a sterilizing gas, in combination atray in which is maintained abody of liquid at a constant level, meansfor supplying said liquid to saidtray, an inverted bell jar placed insaid tray, said bell-jar having an opening for the passage of liquidbetween said tray and said bell jar, means for conveying saidgas intosaid bell-jar, means for controlling the conveyance of gas into saidbell jar, a tube open at the bottom extending below the level of liquidin the bell-jar and having a fiow controlling orifice at the topprovided within said bell-jar, an aspirator for drawing gas through saidorifice thus causing a pressure drop across said orifice and foraspirating liquid and feeding them into a stream of liquid, a secondtube for controlling the drop in pressure across the orifice and forfeeding gas drawn through said orifice and liquid aspirated by saidaspirator into said. stream of liquid, said second tube being providedwithin said first tube and communicating with said aspirator and pivotmeans for tilting said two tubes about a common pivot for adjusting thedrop in pressure across said orifice.

6'. In an apparatus for supplying a sterilizing gas, comprising a trayin which a body of liquid is maintained, means for supplying said liquidto said tray, a closed container placed in said tray, said containerhaving an opening for the passage of liquid between said tray and saidcontainer, means for conveying gas into said container, a suction devicefor withdrawing gas and liquid and for feeding them into a stream ofliquid, a tube open at the bottom extending below the level of saidliquid in the container and providing an orifice having an upstream sideand a downstream side for controlling the flow of gas withdrawn by saidsuction device said suction device causing a pressure drop across saidorifice, a second tube for controlling the drop in pressure across thefiow controlling orifice and for feeding said gas and said liquidwithdrawn by said suction device into said stream of liquid, pivot meansfor a pivotal arrangement of said second tube for adjusting the drop inpressure across said orifice by changing the position of said secondtube relative to the level of the liquid in the container, a U-typemanometer for measuring and indicating the pressure and drop across saidorifice, one arm of said manometer extending into the body of liquidmaintained in said tray and the other arm communicating with saidorifice tube on the downstream side of said orifice.

7. In an apparatus according to claim 6, a capillary tube at the end ofthe arm of said manometer extending into the body of the liquidmaintained in said tray.

8. In an apparatus as described in claim 6, a third tube for connectingone arm of said manometer with said orifice tube on the downstream sideof said orifice.

9. In an apparatus as described in claim 6, a trap communicating withone arm of the manometer and the orifice tube on the downstream side ofthe orifice for removing any liquid discharged into said third tubebefore such liquid reaches said manometer.

10. In an apparatus for supplying a sterilizing gas, comprising a trayin which a body of liquid is maintained, means for supplying said liquidto said tray, a closed container placed in said tray, said containerhaving an opening for the passage of liquid between said tray and saidcontainer, means for conveying said gas into said container, a suctiondevice for withdrawing gas and liquid and for feeding them into a streamof liquid to be sterilized, a tube having an orifice for controlling thefioW of gas withdrawn by said suction device, said suction devicecausing a pressure drop across said orifice, a second closed containerplaced in said tray, said second container providing a passage betweensaid tray and said second container for said liquid, a second tubeconnecting said orifice tube with said second container, a third tubelocated in said second container for controlling the drop in pressureacross the fiow controlling orifice and feeding gas and liquid withdrawnby said suction device into said stream of liquid provided withinsaid'second container and pivotal means for a pivotal arrangement ofsaid third tube for adjusting the drop in pressure across saidorifice.

11. In an apparatus for supplying sterilizing gas, comprising a tray inwhich'a body of liquid is maintained, means for supplying said liquid tosaid tray, an inverted bell jar placed in said tray, said bell jarhaving an opening for the passage of liquid between said tray and saidbell jar, means for conveying said gas into said bell jar,

means for controlling the conveyance of gas into said bell jar, a tubeopen at the bottom extending below the level of liquid in said bell jarand having a flow controlling orifice at the top provided within saidbell jar, an aspirator for drawing gas through said orifice thus causinga presfice and pivot means for tilting said three tubes about a commonpivot point for adjusting the drop in pressure across said orifice.

GEORG ORNSTEIN.

